I agree with you on picking Judith Beck's solution as your favorite. I didn't know who Ms. Beck was until I read your article, but coincidentally that has been my mantra for the past few months ever since I began to revise my way of eating. My wife and I have extra celebrations this time of year because our Anniversary is on 12/7 and both of our birthdays are in January. In the past, my weight loss efforts always stalled at the beginning of the holidays, and then eventually fizzled out because there was always some upcoming celebration that I would use an excuse to delay getting back on track. Well, I would up never getting back on track.

Now I have changed my mindset regarding food. I have realized that these holidays and events should not be defined by the food we eat but, rather, by the company we keep. So, I don't feel deprived if I don't partake in all of the "trimmings" that come with the turkey on Thanksgiving or have a piece of birthday cake on my birthday. The food is secondary.

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Started out at 405.5 on 7/31/12. Then lost 156 lbs to get down to 249.5 by 7/31/13. In the past year I have put back on over 40 pounds and reached a high of 291.5. But I have recommitted myself and quickly took off ten pounds by 7/31/14. I am now trying to take off the weight I put back on, and then lose the rest of the weight I was originally trying to lose. ‹---- Starting weight / Low weight / Current Weight / Goal Weight

joefla70: our anniversary is on 12/7, too! It's a nice way to kick off the holiday season as long as the celebration isn't totally centered on food!
If you like the Beck book, be sure to check out the Beck support group here on 3FC: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/beck-diet-solution-234/